Current News

by Mike Smith Over the past several weeks the Vermont attorney general, a prominent prosecutor and a state representative have all said or done things that have left many Vermonters shaking their heads in disbelief.Let’s start with the attorney general, TJ Donovan.

Soon after taking office in January, he quietly asked the National Association of Attorneys General to conduct a management and organizational study of his office. New ideas, new approaches and more efficiency can be identified by such a study, so who could argue against the need for such a review? After all, Donovan had succeeded an attorney general who had been there for nearly 20 years.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont announces the launch of four new online digital marketing certificates designed for business professionals through a collaboration with the Digital Marketing Institute, the certification standard in digital marketing education. Adding to UVM’s nationally recognized Digital Marketing Fundamentals Professional Certificate, students will now also be able to enroll in 10-week, online, advanced-level digital marketing certificates—Social Media Marketing Certificate and Search Marketing Certificate— beginning on September 27, 2017. In Spring 2018, UVM will be offering two additional certificates—Digital Marketing Strategy & Planning, and Social Selling.

Castleton University is partnering with the Vermont Early Childhood Consortium to offer the Early Childhood Summer Institute onJuly 24-27, 2017. The institute consists of 10 simultaneous classes offered by 10 different Vermont Institutions. The courses are designed to promote Vermont’s core values for early education and to meet the needs of teachers of all levels. A strong emphasis is placed on courses that assist teachers in obtaining or retaining licenses and endorsements.

Vermont Business MagazineA new collaboration between the University of Vermont’s Business of Craft Beer Program and the industry-recognized Cicerone® Certification Program will allow students in UVM’s Craft Beer program to further distinguish themselves as craft beer experts with specialized knowledge in selecting, acquiring, and serving a variety of beer styles. Components of Cicerone’s instructional materials will be incorporated into UVM’s fully online Business of Craft Beer Program, and students will be eligible to take the first level Cicerone Certification exam at no extra charge.

The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for June was 3.2 percent. This reflects no change from the revised May rate (3.2 percent). Thenational rate in June was 4.4 percent.As of the prior month’s preliminary data, the Burlington-South Burlington Metropolitan NECTA was tied for the ninth lowest unemployment rate in the country for all metropolitan areas at 2.3 percent (not-seasonally-adjusted). Overall, Vermont’s unemployment rate was tied for the seventh lowest in the country for the same time period.

Vermont Business Magazine The Committee for the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the inductees for 2017.

Recipients are chosen based on their accomplishments and significant contributions to Vermont agriculture.

They are:
• Rupert and Muriel Chamberlin, former dairy farmers and well-known Jersey breeders
• Ray and Pam Allen, applegrowers and agritourism leaders
• Claude Bourbeau, former dairy farmer and leader in dairy issues

These nominees will be honoredon Wednesday,August, 30, 2017, during the invitation only luncheon at the Champlain Valley Exposition. Also during that time, the black and white photographs of the 2016 inductees will be unveiled. These photos will feature Gordon Booth, Anne C. Brown, Walter and Sally Goodrich and Ralph McNall

Vermont Business Magazine On behalf of its Members, Brett Smith, President, and CEO of One Credit Union presented a check for $4,200 to James Hathaway, President, and CEO of Make-A- Wish Vermont. As One CU’sfirst ever fundraising campaign for Make-A- Wish, everyone was delighted with the results. Make-A- Wish grants wishes to kids with critical medical conditions. Each wish come true has the power to make kids feel stronger, more courageous and more determined to overcome their illnesses. All the money raised stays right in the communities One CU serves in Vermont and New Hampshire. “We believe one moment can change everything in the life of a child. We are so grateful One Credit Union believes that as well,” stated a grateful Hathaway.

Vermont Business Magazine Maple Capital Management is proud to announce and congratulate the election of Elizabeth Lewis, CFA as Shareholder.Liz has served as a committed Portfolio Manager at Maple Capital for the last five years and is thrilled to keep driving the company towards further growth. In addition to building custom portfolios for a wide variety of individual and institutional clients, Liz also hasyears of experience in business development, financial planning and is a part of Maple Capital’s Captive Insurance team.

Maple Capital also welcomes new hires, Timothy Wooster, Portfolio Manager as well as Cory Latour and Kara Simanskas to the Client Service Team.

by Randolph T Holhut and Jeff Potter/The Commons This was supposed to be a summer of triumph for the New England Center for Circus Arts. In the space of a week, the 10-year-old nonprofit spun into chaos after its founders, Elsie Smith and Serenity Smith Forchion, announced that they had been relieved of their duties as the school’s artistic directors. A public revolt by coaches and staff ensued.

Vermont Business Magazine Darn Tough Vermont, the fastest growing American manufacturer of premium performance outdoor and lifestyle socks, announces a 24 percent growth in the recent second quarter, year-over-year. Accounting for the impressive overall growth, Darn Tough’s individual categories – Hike, Lifestyle, Run, Work, Hunt and Kids – have all seen major increases. Opening new doors, expanding distribution and increasing product assortment within existing retailers have all contributed to the brand’s success, as has the team’s continued investments in new products and market opportunities.

Vermont Business MagazineVermont State Treasurer Beth Pearcetoday announced the successful negotiation of a contract to provide health insurance plans to retired members of the Vermont State Teachers’ Retirement System (VSTRS). This will save the State of Vermont over $550,000 in FY 2018 and provide total savings to retired teachers, over age 65, of $110,000 for grand total savings of $660,000.

“As State Treasurer, I always look for solutions that are a win-win for the taxpayer and for the retirees we serve,” said Treasurer Pearce. “The new plan will provide a 2% premium decrease for Medicare-eligible members and maintain fiscal year 2017 rates for non-Medicare-eligible members, achieving significant savings for the State of Vermont and for the Teachers’ Retirement System. This agreement maintains price stability at a time when health care costs have soared nationally.”

Vermont Business MagazineThursday, Governor Phil Scott issued Executive Order 12-17, forming the Vermont Climate Action Commission. Among the Commission’s many responsibilities will be the task of unifying Vermont’s ambitious climate and economic goals.